Lower receiver for firearms

ABSTRACT

A lower receiver for a firearm is disclosed that includes a trigger and hammer assemblies receiving section and a magazine well section, a raised bolt catch mount and a trigger access opening defined between the sections. The bolt catch mount includes an opening for insertion of a bolt catch mounting pin, a pin insertion relief formed at the magazine well section aligned with bolt catch mount opening. A trigger finger guide feature is defined between the trigger access opening and the magazine well section below the bolt catch mount.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to firearm assemblies and, more particularly, relates to lower receivers for firearms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Semi-automatic firearms are in wide use. Lower receivers for firearms (in particular semi-automatic firearms such as the AR-15) are used to accommodate firearm assembly and deployment and are well known and also widely utilized. A trigger assembly as well as other components are received at the lower receiver.

When not firing, a user of the firearm must learn to remove the trigger finger to a position remote from the trigger to prevent accidental firing which may occur when the finger is left on the trigger. Remote relocation of the trigger finger is a tactical disadvantage and effects firing accuracy and speed. Several solutions have been suggested for various firearms, though none are completely satisfactory (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,474,169 and 6,023,874, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,397 suggestive of another approach though addressing safety guards for pneumatic nailers). Improved guides could thus be utilized better addressing tactical advantage, firing accuracy and firing speed.

Moreover, heretofore known lower receivers have all included structure that impedes bolt catch assembly installation, and in particular that makes bolt catch roll pin installation and removal a tedious and slow process. Improvements directed to accommodating ease of bolt catch assembly mounting pin installation and removal at the bolt catch mount of the receiver thus enhancing installation and removal speed could thus be utilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a trigger finger guide feature for a firearm. This invention also provides an improved magazine well and bolt catch structure in a lower receiver for a firearm and a lower receiver for a semi-automatic firearm each incorporating the guide feature. The guide feature better addresses tactical advantage, firing accuracy and firing speed. The bolt catch structure improvements accommodate ease of bolt catch assembly mounting pin installation and removal thus enhancing installation and removal speed.

The trigger finger guide feature of this invention is provided in a firearm having a trigger with a width, a user interface at one side of the trigger and a forward portion structure opposite the trigger from the user interface. The forward portion structure has a width greater than width of the trigger. The guide feature includes a detent surface defined in the forward portion structure of the firearm at a position adjacent to the trigger. The detent surface has a maximum depth into the forward portion structure relative to forward portion structure width selected so that the entire detent surface is raised (or lofted) relative to the trigger width.

The improved magazine well and bolt catch structure of this invention is defined at a lower receiver for a firearm adjacent to a trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure thereat. The improved magazine well and bolt catch structure includes opposite side walls defining a magazine well section having a magazine receiving opening at one end. A bolt catch mount is located at one of the side walls adjacent to the magazine well section. The trigger finger guide feature is formed at least in one of the side walls below the bolt catch mount.

The lower receiver of this invention is particularly well adapted for a semi-automatic firearm. The lower receiver includes a trigger and hammer assemblies receiving section and a magazine well section, a trigger access opening defined between the sections. A raised bolt catch mount is located between the trigger and hammer assemblies receiving section and the magazine well section and includes an opening for insertion of a bolt catch mounting pin. A pin manipulation access relief is provided at the magazine well section aligned with the opening at the raised bolt catch mount. A buffer tube receiver is located adjacent to one end of the trigger and hammer assemblies receiving section, the trigger finger guide feature being defined between the trigger access opening and the magazine well section below the bolt catch mount.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a trigger finger guide feature for a firearm.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved magazine well and bolt catch structure in a lower receiver for a firearm incorporating a trigger finger guide feature.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a lower receiver for a firearm incorporating a trigger finger guide feature.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a trigger finger guide feature for a firearm that better addresses tactical advantage, firing accuracy and firing speed.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved magazine well and bolt catch structure in a lower receiver for a firearm as well as a lower receiver for a firearm having bolt catch structure improvements that accommodate ease and speed of bolt catch assembly mounting pin installation and removal.

It is another object of this invention to provide, in a firearm having a trigger with a width, a user interface at one side of the trigger and a forward portion structure opposite the trigger from the user interface, the forward portion structure having a width greater than width of the trigger, a trigger finger guide feature that includes a detent surface defined in the forward portion structure of the firearm at a position adjacent to the trigger, the detent surface having a maximum depth into the forward portion structure relative to forward portion structure width selected so that the entire detent surface is raised relative to the trigger width.

It is still another object of this invention to provide, in a lower receiver for a firearm including a trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure, an improved magazine well and bolt catch structure adjacent to the trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure that includes opposite side walls defining a magazine well section having a magazine receiving opening at one end thereof, a bolt catch mount at one of the side walls adjacent to the magazine well section, and a first trigger finger guide feature formed in at least one of the side walls below the bolt catch mount and adjacent to the magazine well.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a lower receiver for a semi-automatic firearm including a trigger and hammer assemblies receiving section, a magazine well section, a trigger access opening defined between the sections, a raised bolt catch mount between the trigger and hammer assemblies receiving section and the magazine well section, the bolt catch mount including an opening for insertion of a bolt catch mounting pin, a pin manipulation access relief at the magazine well section and aligned with the opening at the raised bolt catch mount, a buffer tube receiver adjacent to one end of the trigger and hammer assemblies receiving section, and a trigger finger guide feature defined between the trigger access opening and the magazine well section below the bolt catch mount.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent to one skilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as come within the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of the invention according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a semi-automatic firearm including the lower receiver of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the lower receiver of this invention having the trigger assembly and pistol grip mounted thereon;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower receiver of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the trigger finger guide feature of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the lower receiver of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a top elevation view of the lower receiver of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the lower receiver of this invention;

FIG. 8 is an opposite side elevation view of the lower receiver of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the lower receiver of this invention; and

FIG. 10 is a bottom elevation view of the lower receiver of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improved lower receiver 15 of this invention is illustrated in the FIGURES. FIGS. 1 and 2 show lower receiver 15 in various stages of assembly with other component assemblies of firearm 17. Firearm 17 (as shown herein, an AR-15 type of semi-automatic firearm that is well known in the art) typically includes an upper receiver 19 connected with lower receiver 15. The receivers are made of metal or other materials known for such application using well know manufacturing techniques (milling, molding and the like).

Upper receiver 19 is adapted for connection of the upper assemblies of firearm 17 thereto (including barrel 21 and handguard set 23, for example) as is well known. Lower receiver 15 is adapted for connection of the lower assemblies of firearm 17, including user interface assemblies 25 and 27 (a pistol grip assembly and a stock assembly, respectively, the stock assembly including the buttstock and buffer tube), magazine 29, magazine catch assembly 31, bolt catch assembly 33, trigger guard assembly 35, trigger assembly 37 (including trigger 39), and selector, pivot pin, and hammer assemblies (not shown, but well known in the art).

Turning now to FIGS. 3 through 10, lower receiver 15 will be addressed in more detail. Receiver 15 includes forward portion 41 having magazine well and bolt catch structure 43 thereat. Trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure (or section) 45 is adjacent to structure 43, trigger access opening 47 defined therebetween. Pistol grip assembly interface/receiver 49 and buffer tube threaded receiver 51 are located at end 53 of structure 45, and pivot pin assembly receiver 55 is located at end 57 of forward portion 41/structure 43. Structure 43 includes magazine well section 59 and raised bolt catch mount 61 adjacent thereto. Well section includes a magazine receiving opening 62 at one end of well section 59. Hammer assembly pin receiver opening 63, selector assembly receiver opening 65, trigger assembly pin receiver opening 67, and magazine catch assembly receiver and opening 69 are all located in side wall 71 (opposite receiver openings 63′, 65′, 67′ and 69′ for each also located at opposite side wall 73 as shown in FIG. 8). It is of course to be appreciated that all the various structures and sections of lower receiver 15 specified above are incorporated in the monolithic manufacture (a unitary formation) of receiver 15 and are not typically separate articles of manufacture subsequently assembled.

Trigger finger guide features 77 and 77′ of this invention are located at side walls 71 and 73 (preferably, though location at one or the other of the side walls could also be accommodated in manufacture). As shown in FIG. 4 guide features 77/77′ are defined by detents having detent surfaces 79 formed in forward portion 41 of firearm 17 at a position adjacent to trigger access opening 47 and thus 39. Maximum depth of a detent surface 79 into side wall 71/73 at forward portion 41 relative to forward portion structure width A-A (see FIG. 6) is selected so that a detent surface 79 is raised relative to trigger 39 width B-B (see FIG. 6). In this way, trigger 39 is always laterally spaced from a user's trigger finger when positioned in a detent surface 79 while yet leaving the trigger finger well aligned pointing at the target and ready to shoot.

As shown in FIG. 4, a detent surface 79 has an overall width C-C and an overall length D-D extending away from the trigger and trigger access opening 47, the maximum depth, overall width and said overall length configured to rest a trigger finger therein. By way of example, maximum depth may preferably be between about 7.6 mm and 10.15 mm, overall width preferably between about 27.90 mm and 33.0 mm, and overall length preferably between about 17.75 mm and 20.35 mm. As noted in FIGS. 6 and 10, trigger guard 35 width is greater than the trigger width B - B but less than the width A-A of forward portion structure 41. As seen in FIG. 4, detent surface 79 overall width C-C extends to a position adjacent to trigger guard 35 to assure correct/optimal positioning of a user's trigger finger adjacent to trigger 39. Detent surface 79 maximum depth is thus no greater than about one half the difference between the trigger guard width and the forward portion structure width and, as shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, is no deeper than surface 81/81′ of trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure 45 adjacent to one of said side walls 71/73 at magazine well section 59 and to trigger access opening 47 thereat. As shown, trigger finger guide feature 77/77′ preferably includes an arcuate leading edge 83 spaced from trigger access opening 47 (and thus trigger 39).

In accord with another aspect of this invention, bolt catch mount 61 includes an opening 87 substantially parallel to side wall 71 for insertion of a bolt catch mounting pin. Opening 87 is defined by first and second aligned passageways 89 and 91. An elongated pin manipulation access relief 93 is formed in the magazine catch assembly accommodating raised portion 95 of side wall 71 above magazine catch assembly receiver 69 and adjacent to bolt catch mount 61 at magazine well section 59. Relief 93 is aligned with, but spaced from, bolt catch mount opening 87 (and thus aligned passageways 89 and 91) for accommodating improved bolt catch mounting pin insertion into or withdrawal from opening 87.

Assembly of lower receiver 15 of this invention with the various lower assemblies is standard. As may be appreciated from the foregoing, the improved lower receiver, including the improved magazine well and bolt catch structure having the trigger finger guide feature of this invention and bolt catch mounting pin manipulation access relief thereat, will enhance tactical advantage, firing accuracy and firing speed and accommodate ease and speed of bolt catch assembly mounting pin installation and removal thereby simplifying field deployment and use. 

1. Firearm features comprising: a trigger with a width, a user interface receiver at one side of said trigger and a forward portion structure opposite said trigger from said user interface, said forward portion structure having a width greater than said width of said trigger; and a trigger finger guide feature comprising a first detent surface defined in said forward portion structure at a position adjacent to said trigger, said first detent surface having a maximum depth into said forward portion structure relative to said forward portion structure width selected so that said first detent surface is raised relative to said trigger width.
 2. The firearm features of claim 1 wherein said first detent surface has an overall width and an overall length extending away from the trigger, said maximum depth, said overall width and said overall length of said first detent surface configured to rest a trigger finger therein.
 3. The firearm features of claim 2 wherein said first detent surface maximum depth is between about 7.6 mm and 10.15 mm, said overall width is between about 27.90 mm and 33.0 mm, and said overall length is between about 17.75 mm and 20.35 mm.
 4. The firearm features of claim 2 further including a trigger guard connected at said forward portion structure and with a width greater than said trigger width but less than said forward portion structure width, said trigger finger guide feature further characterized by said first detent surface overall width extending to a position adjacent to said trigger guard.
 5. The firearm features of claim 4 wherein said first detent surface maximum depth is no greater than one half the difference between said trigger guard width and said forward portion structure. width.
 6. The firearm features of claim 1 further comprising a second detent surface on an opposite side of the firearm and directly opposite said first detent surface, said second detent surface having a maximum depth into said forward portion structure relative to said forward portion structure width selected so that all of said second detent surface is raised relative to said trigger width.
 7. The firearm features of claim 1 wherein said first detent surface includes an arcuate leading edge spaced from said trigger.
 8. The firearm features of claim 1 further comprising a lower receiver having said forward portion structure and said user interface receiver thereat and including a trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure adjacent to said user interface receiver and a magazine well and bolt catch structure at said forward portion structure and adjacent to said trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure, said magazine and bolt catch structure comprising: opposite side walls defining a magazine well section having a magazine receiving opening at one end thereof; and a bolt catch mount at one of said side walls adjacent to said magazine well section, said trigger finger guide feature formed in one of said side walls below said bolt catch mount and adjacent to said magazine well
 9. The firearm features of claim 8 further comprising an opposite finger guide feature at another of said side walls and opposite said trigger finger guide feature.
 10. The firearm features of claim 8 wherein said maximum depth of said a detent surface into said one of said side walls is selected so that all of said detent surface is no deeper than a surface of the trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure adjacent to said one of said side walls of said magazine well section.
 11. The firearm features of claim 8 wherein said bolt catch mount includes an opening parallel to said one of said side walls for insertion of a bolt catch mounting pin, said improved magazine well and bolt catch structure further comprising an access relief at said one of said side walls adjacent to said bolt catch mount at said magazine well section and aligned with said bolt catch mount opening for accommodating bolt catch mounting pin insertion into or withdrawal from said opening at said bolt catch mount.
 12. The firearm features of claim 11 wherein said access relief is an elongated relief.
 13. The firearm features of claim 11 wherein said bolt catch mount opening includes first and second aligned passageways.
 14. The firearm features of claim 13 wherein said access relief is spaced from said aligned passageways of said bolt catch mount opening.
 15. The firearm features of claim 8 wherein trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure and said magazine well and bolt catch structure, said firearm features further comprising: a raised bolt catch mount defined at said magazine well and bolt catch structure between said trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure and a magazine well section of said magazine well and bolt catch structure, said bolt catch mount including an opening for insertion of a bolt catch mounting pin, said trigger finger guide feature defined between said trigger access opening and said magazine well section below said bolt catch mount; a pin manipulation access relief at said magazine well section and aligned with said opening at said raised bolt catch mount; and said user interface receiver including a buffer tube receiver adjacent to one end of said trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure.
 16. The firearm features of claim 15 further comprising a pistol grip interface at said user interface receiver below said trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure, a selector assembly receiver at said trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure, and a pivot pin receiver and a magazine catch assembly receiver at said magazine well section, and wherein said pin manipulation access relief is located above said magazine catch assembly receiver at said magazine well section.
 17. The firearm features of claim 15 wherein said maximum depth of said detent surface of said trigger finger guide feature is selected so that all of said detent surface is no deeper than a surface of said trigger and hammer assemblies receiving structure adjacent to said trigger access opening thereat.
 18. The firearm features of claim of 17 wherein said detent surface has an overall width and an overall length extending away from said trigger access opening.
 19. The firearm features of claim of 15 further comprising another detent surface on an opposite side of said lower receiver between said trigger access opening and said magazine well section.
 20. The firearm features of claim of 15 wherein said access relief is an elongated relief, wherein said bolt catch mount opening includes first and second aligned passageways, and wherein said access relief is spaced from said aligned passageways. 